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For Immediate Release
Saturday, April 17, 2004
Environmental Science Teacher "Cleans-Up"
 Deborah
Perryman
Elgin High School
Biology & Environmental Sciences
(SPRINGFIELD) -- Deborah Perryman has spent the last
decade teaching her students to appreciate the world around
them, whether that is in preserving open lands or raising
awareness about pollution. Saturday evening the fruits
of Perryman's labor paid off when she was awarded the
2004 Illinois Teacher of the Year.
Perryman was selected from 12 outstanding finalists.
(For more information about the finalists, click
here.) More than 300 nominations were received from
students, parents, administrators and school board members
for the Teacher of the Year award, which is part of the
Those Who Excel program. Those Who Excel recognizes outstanding
teachers and educators, and is sponsored by the Illinois
State Board of Education, Motorola and The SMARTer Kids
Foundation.
"Teachers with Deb's strengths, commitment, and
determination are the backbone of a solid educational
experience for Illinois students," said State Superintendent
of Education Robert Schiller. "Her dedication to
teaching students to be curious about the world around
them has resulted in a generation of students who will
forever appreciate her contribution to them and are sure
to be lifelong learners. She is an educator we should
all emulate."
The scope of Perryman's Environmental Sciences and Biology
class at Elgin High School has reached well beyond the
classroom and has impacted the entire community. Elgin
High School currently serves as a Stenciling Clearinghouse
for the Conservation Foundation. The distinction came
when Perryman's students learned that storm water is not
treated before it enters creeks, rivers and lakes and
then worked on a class project entitled "2000 in
2000." Using stencils and paint, the students aspired
to stencil 2000 storm drains in the Poplar Creek Watershed.
By last fall the students had marked 3,800 drains with
signage stating "Dump No Waste, Drains to River."
The foundation now provides equipment and training to
any community organization interested in the project.
Elgin School District U-46 Superintendent, Connie Neale,
credits Perryman's tenure with the district as one that
has ensured that hundreds, if not thousands, of students;
"have had a wonderful and substantive foundation
in conservation education."
Perryman is also credited with transforming 35 acres
of land on Elgin High School's property into a district
resource that provides hands-on, multi-sensory learning
for students of all ages. The Elgin High School Nature
Trail has helped students learn that they can make a difference
within the community. Her students have gained valuable
leadership opportunities as they assist other teachers
in class field trips on the Nature Trail. Perryman appoints
students as team leaders, a role that comes with the responsibility
for ensuring a smooth, problem-free learning experience
for younger students. In addition, her students conduct
workshops to help teachers learn more about environmental
education.
Perryman's pride in her students is limitless and well
justified. Her students were the first to present at an
international conference on solid waste in its nineteen-year
history. Perryman estimates that her students have taught
more than 10,000 young learners about Illinois Natural
History.
Deb has been teaching for the last twelve years and holds
a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Aurora
University.
As Illinois Teacher of the Year Perryman has the opportunity
to take some time off from teaching. She will receive
a lifetime tuition waiver to state universities and a
one-semester paid leave to pursue graduate work or develop
an educational project that will benefit students statewide.
In addition, Perryman will represent Illinois at the NASA
Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, and in the National
Teacher of the Year program sponsored by the Council of
Chief State School Officers and Scholastic, Inc. She will
also spend the 2004 fall semester speaking at teacher
workshops, educational conferences and civic and community
meetings.
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